Speaking to reporters moments after the CRTC announced Thursday it will delay its controversial ruling and head back to the drawing board to review its decision, Clement said the initial ruling is not acceptable.

“Regardless of the outcome of the CRTC review, under a Conservative government, this ruling will not be implemented,” said Clement.

Clement said he feels strongly that there be competition and that consumers have choices.

“There are providers now who have that pay-as-you-go system over 25 GB. What this decision was trying to do was to force down the throats of every single internet service provider that very same business model.”

“That’s where we draw the line, quite frankly. We believe there should be choice. If an internet service provider wants to offer unlimited access for a flat fee they should be allowed to offer that in our marketplace.”

The CRTC decision would have eliminated that, he said.

“That’s what we found unacceptable for consumers and for creators and innovators and small businesses.”

Clement’s comments come as the brewing controversy over a CRTC decision that would set the stage for usage based billing for small ISP providers boiled over. Angry internet users took to cyberspace to protest the move and Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government signaled publicly and on Twitter that it was unhappy with the decision.

Some point out the move directly affects only 550,000 of Canada’s estimated 9 million internet users and only affects residential customers – not businesses. But others argue forcing small internet providers who provide unlimited service for a flat fee into the same business model as large providers like Rogers and Bell, which already impose usage based billing, will lead to higher prices across the board.

Parliament’s industry committee was so concerned about the decision that it hauled CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein out of hearings on the deal for BCE to take over CTV Globemedia’s broadcasting interests to testify before it.

Von Finckenstein outlined the internet landscape in Canada and defended the CRTC’s decision to allow large distributors to impose usage-based billing on the small ISPs.

Von Finckenstein said it is in the interest of consumers for small ISPs to continue to exist and it is not fair for average internet users to have to subsidize the small percentage of heavy internet users.

However, Von Finckenstein acknowledged the decision was a controversial one that had triggered a grassroots, internet based campaign. At the same time, Bell Canada, which had applied for the decision which was supposed to take effect March 1, asked for a delay in its implementation.

Consequently, the CRTC decided of its own accord at 5 p.m. Wednesday to delay the decision by at least 60 days, he said. At the same time it will launch a review of its decision to ensure that it protects consumers, that heavy users of the internet pay for that use and that ISPs “retain maximum flexibility and continue to be a key source of innovation in the industry.”

Von Finckenstein dismissed suggestions the CRTC had bowed to government pressure to review its decision.

“It was our decision to do this.”

Clement welcomed the CRTC’s decision to review the decision. While he said he still have confidence in the CRTC and Von Finckenstein, he said the CRTC has to respect the government’s policies.

Clement said the government’s policy is to encourage competition, increase consumer choice, minimize regulation and allow market forces to prevail.

“As our government develops Canada’s first comprehensive digital economy strategy we need to look very carefully at how decisions like these affect the bigger picture. We need to make sure that government policies provide the right framework for entrepreneurs to flourish, for innovative new ideas to take root and for real opportunity and job creation.”